To show support as a community I think this idea for a group build would help. We all know the latest, greatest offerings are produced in the far east. Certain scales and subjects are not. With the ‘use it or loose it’ frame of mind how about it everyone?
The idea is all I can offer, someone with technical savvy and able to whip up cool badge thingy s, moderate and see this seed grow is needed! Below is my post in aircraft that sparked this idea[I]
*Idea for a group build, any kits that are NOT produced in China or Japan. Far from expert or having the last word that should exclude 90% of choices. A sample list would include:
Revell / Monogram (vintage), Hobby Craft. Ultracast, AMT ETRL
Obviously there are more to list. As a community supporting domestic manufactures is needed more now than ever!
“Kit manufactured by companies NOT based in the Far East” - similar thing & gets get round the whole “but that kit is popped in such & such a country” argument?
I’m all about pride in country and where I get my stuff…but the argument stands: Why does it matter? My last 2 models were made in Russia (ICM) and Czech Republic (Eduard)…Why exclude China and Japan?
YES! I see the idea is gaining momentum, just thought supporting companies that are not based in the far east would be a good idea. Russian and Czech Republic are acceptable. Someone with knowlage of all companies not based there is welcome to take this over. If not I will let it rest as we all love our latest DML, Tamiya and Trumpiter kits so much. Origional hope was that England, Canada and USA still had kits produced within their borders…you know support our industries and jobs?
Can’t argue that small hands = small wages.[whstl]and hence price$
OK! I found a candidate, nothing to large (but price) or complicated. It does require some test fitting, assembly with Cyranoacrylate glue and paint. Which by definition IS a model kit, given the nature of skills involved a advanced one at that. Oh its also 100% sculpted, produced and assembled in Canada! Somewhere in your stash should be some kits that can be built to get this rare badge! Big or small lets build em’ all!
Yes there are many smaller companies that design and produce their product strictly in the country of their origin and outside the Far East, but most are like this one you show-they qualify as aftermarket or limited run. Nearly all the major model companies are either based in the Far East, or are international in that while home based in whatever country for the office side of the business, have their kits manufactured in a less expensive country.
I was raised to NEVER buy an import car. My father told me if I ever came home with one, I had to park it in the street, lol. That being said I always buy domestic vehicles. Now, I am very much “into” the car scene, and I am fully aware that even the “Big 3” have a large majority of their components produced outside of the USA, not to mention final assembly plants. However, the labor involved in producing goods is not the only expenditure the company has. There are decision makes in the company (management, executive), HR people, accountants, customer service, etc, etc. Most of these people are employed here (USA). The same thing can be applied to a domestic model company that has a factory in China. A much larger portion of the money coming from the purchase of a domestic kit will go into the pockets of a domestic person, that if you bought a kit from Tamiya.
Gamera, last I checked Korea was in the ‘far east’
My little tank crew is not considered big kit, yet is all I have in stash right now thats close to the criteria set fourth. I do have kits from Hobby Craft and vintage offerings from Revell / Monogram when USA was on the lable. They are 3000 miles from Graceland er, back in Alberta. Untill me and my full stash of kits are reunited look forward to exciteing WIP’s of the American tank crew, produced by Ultra Cast and made in Canada!
‘Red, white and YOU’ needs a cool badge and more ideas for suitable kits, aftermarket welcome! I do have idea for ‘A Proud Canadian’ badge. Will wait and see what else finds this group build first.[^o)]
ICM and Edward welcome. The point is to exclude all kits from the far east while supporting smaller manufactures that need recognition. My stash at home is 60% DML, 20% Tamiya, 5% Trumpiter and 15% others.
Oh one more… the 1/35 Ultracast tank crew will become ground crew for my 1/32 Trumpiter P-51 by adding Ultracast heads with 1940’s hair styles. Tanker heads will be saved for… Sherman crew?
Reaper makes a nice line of figures out of a factory in Texas. Most of them are gaming figures (28-32mm) but they also do a great though limited line of 90mm ones. And at about $20.00 US dollars they’re around a third the price of the Andrea 90mm figures.
As pointed out by others, the plastic industry is certainly part of a global economy. This GB appears to have overtones of economic isolationism, which is exactly what’s not needed right now.
Further, when companies from the Far East are excluded but Russia and Czech Republic are okay, this smacks of xenophobia.
Arki, I think part of it (from a non american point of view, uh, whats patriotism?) is what we can create with the so called ‘major’ brands ie tamiya, hasegawa etc. I think It would be more fun to do a model olympics, sign up to a country/model brand if you wanted the patriotism thing.
